Compound Security

All the compounds for expats I’ve seen are surrounded by a high wall which provides privacy and a degree of security.  The privacy is probably more effective as it prevents those living outside the compound from seeing half naked expats wearing normal clothing. :-)

The security consists of two inward checkpoints and one outward.  To enter the compound a vehicle must have a windscreen sticker or be on a resident’s ‘guest list’.  The traffic is slowed down by a series of chicanes between the entrance/exit and checkpoints.  There are also long approach and exit roads to give the security staff advanced notice of an approaching vehicle. 

At the first entrance checkpoint there is an armed Saudi National Guard soldier.  A very bored looking soldier.  He is there to protect the entrance and has nothing to do with the admittance of vehicles.  I guess he is there to lay his life on the line should the compound be attacked.  Frankly, if he even had the opportunity to take action, I suspect he’d be more inclined to try and save his neck.  Why would he want to place is life in jeopardy for a bunch of foreign ‘fat cats’?  The 1st checkpoint also has an unarmed compound security guard who scans the underside of each vehicle with a mirror and inspects inside the boot.  He also checking the engine compartment.  Well he did for the first week, but now doesn’t bother!  At the second checkpoint identification is checked.  But now they recognise me and Galeb and we just get waved through.  After the second checkpoint there is a moveable barrier which is usually open and a large sliding electrically operated gate.  It looks solid but actually could easily be knocked down by a lorry.

The road out is protected by tyre shredders in three locations.  However I have noticed that two sections of the tyre shredders are defective.  There are also numerous security cameras.

The exit road.

I believe the security is more superficial than effective and it wouldn’t last long if an armed serious attempt were to be made to breach it.  But then the last attempt to attack compounds was a decade ago in 2003.  After that had occurred the Saudi authorities had a serious crackdown on “terrorist cells” within the country.  My security assessment is I should be more concerned about my safety when facing the local traffic!  However I’ve also identified a personal “hide” should the compound be attacked whilst I’m in it.